Lewis Hamilton made history in Montmeló, Barcelona, yesterday by securing his first Formula 1 victory with Ferrari. The British driver's win at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya also broke Michael Schumacher's record, making him the driver with the most wins at the track, with seven. This triumph, his 106th career victory, is his first since the Belgian Grand Prix in 2024 and his inaugural win of the current season.
Hamilton, 41, finished ahead of George Russell and Lando Norris, completing an all-British podium. The win injects significant excitement into the championship, as leader Kimi Antonelli retired three laps from the end, reducing his lead over Hamilton to 41 points and Russell to 52. With 15 Grand Prix races remaining, the title fight is now much closer.
Disappointment for Spanish Drivers
The race proved challenging for Spanish drivers Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso. Alonso, who had anticipated a difficult weekend with Aston Martin, described his car as having "the worst car and the worst engine" on Saturday after qualifying last. He started from the pit lane following power unit changes to his AMR26 and later retired after 37 laps due to a battery failure. His teammate, Lance Stroll, also retired early with a gearbox issue, marking a disastrous day for Aston Martin.
Carlos Sainz, starting 16th on the grid, gained four positions at the start, but his efforts to reach the points zone were unsuccessful. He finished 12th, with the Williams car struggling to match the pace of competitors. "This is not where we promised to be this year, it's not where we should be, a second per lap off the leaders. We are still very far," Sainz stated.
Track temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius on the asphalt quickly affected tyre degradation. Ferrari's strategy for pit stops proved more effective than Mercedes' during a period of high tyre wear. The safety car, deployed after Alonso's retirement, benefited Hamilton significantly, saving him 10 seconds during his pit stop and allowing him to re-enter the track in the lead for a thrilling final section.
Championship Standings Tighten
Kimi Antonelli, aggressive in close combat, had a strong duel with pole-sitter Russell. However, Antonelli's Mercedes engine failed with three laps remaining, preventing a complete celebration for Ferrari, as Charles Leclerc also recorded his second consecutive zero-point finish. The championship now looks considerably more open.
Race Results: Formula 1 Circuit de Montmeló
- Lewis HAMILTON (Ferrari) 1:32:28.105 h
- George RUSSELL (Mercedes) +19.561 s
- Lando NORRIS (McLaren) +23.719 s
- Max VERSTAPPEN (Red Bull) +40.497 s
- Oscar PIASTRI (McLaren) +58.661 s
World Championship Standings:
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) 156 points
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) 115 points
- George Russell (Mercedes) 106 points
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 75 points
- Lando Norris (McLaren) 73 points
Looking ahead, the Formula 1 season continues with 15 more Grand Prix races, promising further competition for the championship title. Hamilton's performance in Barcelona suggests a strong resurgence for Ferrari and sets the stage for an exciting second half of the season.
